Benford agrees to Free Agent status with Dallas Cowboys

Apr 30, 2012

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech wide receiver Tim
Benford’s dazzling football career has taken on a new life.
The Golden Eagle All-American and Ohio Valley Conference Player of
the Year has agreed to terms on a free agent deal with the
NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.

Benford, a product of Red Bank High School in Chattanooga,
received a phone call Saturday from Cowboys’ Owner and GM
Jerry Jones. While messages on Twitter and Facebook speculated that
Benford would join the Cowboys, the team didn’t confirm the
deal until midday Monday.

“They offered me, and I was like, ‘Yeah.’
I’ve always wanted to be on America’s Team,”
Benford said. “That’s who I was brought up watching in
my household. It’s a dream come true. Now, I’ve just
got to get better every day and keep working to try to get on the
team.

“I’m totally stoked about it,” Benford added.
“I’m ready. I couldn’t be any more excited about
the situation I’m in right now. I’m very thankful for
the opportunity, and I’ve been blessed.”

The Cowboys focused on defense during the recent draft, but were
looking to the bolster their attack when they announced deals with
21 rookie free agents, 14 of whom play on offense.

Benford will join more than 40 players expected to participate in
a minicamp this weekend. The rookies will report to the
team’s Valley Ranch Thursday, with four practices scheduled
for Friday and Saturday, two each day. The minicamp will include
the team’s seven draft picks and 21 free agents, plus a few
rookie tryouts. Some first-year veterans will also be eligible to
practice.

“I think he picked the highest profile team there is, which
is great,” said TTU coach Watson Brown. “They’re
the team that showed a lot of interest in him during the week.
I’m sure they got very close to drafting him and jumped at
him when he was still left as a free agent.”

Benford was named the OVC Offensive Player of the Year after
making 65 catches for 923 yards and five touchdowns, helping the
Golden Eagles capture the league championship. For his career,
Benford recorded 216 catches for 3,097 yards and 27 touchdowns, all
school records.

The Golden Eagle star has a chance to become a second OVC free
agent to make it with the Cowboys, following in the footsteps of
starting quarterback Tony Romo, who played collegiately at Eastern
Illinois.

“I told Tim, ‘Romo was a free agent from Eastern
Illinois, right here in the league. Both of you were OVC MVPs and
All-Americans. Go in there and let him throw to you,’”
Brown said.